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  • talk-back
    talk-back
    noun
    a communications system enabling those in the studio to hear control-room personnel through a loudspeaker or headphones.
  • talk back
    talk back
    verb
    to answer boldly or impudently
Synonyms

talk-back

American  
[tawk-bak] / ˈtɔkˌbæk /

noun

Radio and Television.
  1. a communications system enabling those in the studio to hear control-room personnel through a loudspeaker or headphones.


talk back British  

verb

  1. to answer boldly or impudently

  2. to conduct a telephone dialogue for immediate transmission over the air

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. television radio a system of telephone links enabling spoken directions to be given during the production of a programme

    1. a broadcast telephone dialogue

    2. ( as modifier )

      a talkback show

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
talk back Idioms  
  1. Also, answer back. Reply rudely or impertinently, as in She was always in trouble for talking back, or The teacher won't allow anyone to answer back to her. [Second half of 1800s]


Etymology

Origin of talk-back

Noun use of verb phrase talk back

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Early in her career, after a performance of Wilson’s “Seven Guitars” — “absolutely an Everyman tragedy story,” Davis said — she and the rest of her cast, all Black, hosted a talk-back.

From New York Times Apr. 12, 2022

The theater that had hosted the talk-back sent out a new email beginning “I am happy to report that the attendee who came into contact with COVID-19 has tested NEGATIVE. This is wonderful news.”

From Slate May 8, 2020

“As soon as the ball dropped, I said to Lance on the talk-back switch, ‘I’m not saying anything for a long time.’

From Golf Digest Apr. 22, 2019

Radio hosts had invited audience questions and comments in the past, but there was something novel about the freewheeling nature of the talk-back format, and Mazer’s show quickly caught on.

From The New Yorker Sep. 17, 2018

It had to be Beethoven, greatest of them all and her idol, the violinist said in the talk-back.

From Los Angeles Times Jun. 8, 2018

You see her at work at night where she lights up when she’s talking to things that can’t talk back, but she feels that they do.

From Los Angeles Times May 7, 2026

"He was just so domineering and you just couldn't talk back to him," she added.

From BBC Feb. 7, 2026

“Yuletide Factory” is pitched toward those younger children, who happily talk back to the players.

From New York Times Nov. 27, 2024

All the talk back then was whether the Preds would unload star goalie Juuse Saros at the trade deadline.

From Seattle Times Mar. 16, 2024

It's the look on Mom's face that makes me talk back to Dad, because she isn't buying his little science speech either.

From "Things Not Seen" by Andrew Clements

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